[Korean Global Awards] Popular Bibigo Promotes Korean Food [글로벌경영대상]
CJ Group, one of Korea’s leading conglomerates, operates the country’s largest food, and entertainment, and media companies. With a deep interest in culinary culture, CJ has long tried to promote excellence of Korean food worldwide. CJ Foodville, the food service wing of CJ Group, launched Cafe Sobahn in Korea in 2005. While CJ’s overseas affiliates in the U.S., Japan and China operated Sobahn Express, Hanchae and Sarangchae, serving bibimbap dishes with local flavors. Bibigo is a Korean restaurant of an entirely new breed; it retains the conventional style of bibimbap but customers can also choose the type of rice, sauce and toppings as they wish. CJ Group regards food services as one of its main growth engines for the future, and is working toward the goal of joining the likes of McDonald’s as a leading global food company. The brand name derives from bibimbap and the word ‘to-go.’ It seeks to provide easy access to bibimbap, not as some exotic Asian dish but as delicious and nutritious food. The restaurant also developed rice salad menus for Western customers more familiar with salads than bibimbap. They can choose from different types of rice, such as white rice, black rice, brown rice, and barley, with toppings like grilled beef, chicken breast and tofu. Sauces include hot pepper paste, sesame seed sauce and lemon soy sauce. The Huffington Post has picked bibimbap as the healthiest fast food in LA, while KCAL9, the LA affiliate of CBS, picked Bibigo as a restaurant to watch. The cover story of LA Times’ business section listed Bibigo as a successful example of Korean brands making inroads in the U.S. Chinese media have also reported on the nutritious Korean cuisine. Bibigo opened its first Korean shop in May 2010 and has added locations across Seoul. There are currently six overseas restaurants in the U.S., China and Singapore. The figure will reach 20 by the year’s end, including the first European location in London before the Summer Olympics in July 2012. “Bibimbap is a nutritious dish that can be prepared upon order like fast food yet still reatain freshness of ingredients,” said Hee-young Noh, CJ’s advisor of brand strategies and concept director for Bibigo. “Through Bibigo, we highlight the healthy nature of Korean cuisine and offer customers a wide range of choices with quick service.”